09-04-2014: Latin American Weekly Report

When Peru’s congress voted to censure the prime minister, Ana Jara, last week, it left President Ollanta Humala with two options: brinkmanship or conciliation. He opted for the former. Humala replaced Jara with Pedro Cateriano, his defence minister for the last three years and a figure of hate for the main opposition parties. Cateriano will have to run the gauntlet of congress by 2 May to seek a vote of confidence. If congress refuses to give this, however, Humala could dissolve the body. The Humala administra- tion, meanwhile, is arguing that the political uncertainty created by congress is conspiring against economic growth by putting off investors.